Tuesday, September 13, 2016

As Led Zeppelin prepare to release “The Complete BBC Sessions” on September 16, guitarist Jimmy Page says one of the things fans can learn from the expanded package is how aggressive the young band were on stage.

“It's just the fact that we were totally fearless,” Page tells Rolling Stone. “You can hear the energy and the attitude – and the fact that we could go in there and make up numbers but not tell the people in the control room. We were testing ourselves as much as anything else, just really going for it.”

The package features live recordings selected from Led Zeppelin’s appearances on BBC Radio between 1969 and 1971 while presenting the expanded and definitive edition of their 1997 set, “BBC Sessions.”

"There is no point in putting out The Complete BBC Sessions and someone's growling that you missed something," laughs Page. "I made sure they can't do that."

Much of the material was presented back in the day by BBC DJ John Peel, who Page says was an early believer in the band.

“He was a fan,” explains the guitarist. “He could understand the musicianship – the way it was put together and how ambitious we were. John Peel made his reputation with his radio show and his record label, Dandelion, by championing the underdog. Peel felt it was his duty to spotlight them. Those are the sort of people you want in the music business.”

"The Complete BBC Sessions" will be available in multiple formats, including a 3CD and 5LP Deluxe Editions, digital download and a 3CD/5LP Super Deluxe Boxed Set.